For Fraternities and Sororities
As we witness a remarkable emergence of Latino/Latina, Asian, Gay, Native American and other fraternities that appeal to unique groups of students, it is important to respond with an aggressive effort to seek common ground. We all know that it can be hard enough to do that when you are just talking about the historically-White and historically-Black fraternities and sororities. How do the newcomers affect our ever-evolving Greek community? How can we all get on the same page about risk management, leadership, campus traditions, advising, and other hot topic issues?
Fact is, being Greek is no longer strictly an issue of black or white, national or local. We need to increase communication, cooperation and understanding between the diverse Greek groups emerging on our campuses, each struggling to find their place on campus and maintain their own unique traditions. We need to uncover and address stereotypes and misunderstandings. We need to find out how we can complement each other, assist each other, and work together to promote a positive image of "fraternity" and "sorority" on our campuses.
Materials
Publicity Posters
Greek Curriculum HighlightsDominant Impressions©
Progress can't be made toward community until we get all the stereotypes
out on the table. This exercise was designed to bring out the "dominant
impressions" that students have of each other's organizations. Getting
these out immediately sets a tone of honesty throughout the day. It also
generates a tremendous desire for discussion.
Rotating Panel Discussion©
This guided discussion will allow students to refute stereotypes brought
out in the previous activity. It will also illustrate the need for a consistent
effort to solicit a variety of different points of view regarding issues
facing our fraternity/sorority community and students rotate in and out
of panel positions to answer questions from their peers.
SALAD Bar Lunch Activity
Lunch is an activity in itself. The lunch will get students thinking about
disparities that exist in resources between organizations — whether
they be financial, membership, advising or others. The activity also exposes
how groups deal with these disparities in resources (ignore, become resentful,
attempt to equalize, etc.).
Values Activity
Students often focus solely on the differences between their organizations.
This activity gets students to focus on those values they share. It reminds
them that all Greek organizations have basically the same purposes and
values at their cores and that by working together, we can create stronger
unity among all fraternity and sorority members on our campus.
Case Studies
Based on real-life incidents, this segment allows students to think about
how they would respond to a similar situation on their campus. This activity
emphasizes an approach which is inclusive of varying points of view when
responding to a crisis.
Action Plan
After all the discussions, now what? Students will take part in an action
planning process and will leave with action items to accomplish in up
to six different student-identified areas. A student committee will leave
with the action items and the charge to implement them immediately.
Commitment Exercises
In order to end the day on the right note, we ask students to participate
in a commitment exercise in which each student states what he or she will
commit to doing after SALAD.
Learn more about the SALAD program:
